<p>ECs-
Ok, pretty decent. Nice that you started an animal welfare club and have a job.</p>
<p>Intended major-
Less popular of a major is a plus.</p>
<p>Look at your ACT and GPA. Choose some safety schools to apply to that match the qualifications you have. Your ACT and GPA make GW a “reach” school. It’s competitive, and honestly I would be surprised if you get in. You might get in, even if unlikely, but look at the numbers and be realistic about your admissions. Don’t count on something if the numbers aren’t there yet. GW is a competitive school. A lot of people apply with, say, a 3.5 GPA, stellar ECs, and a 28 ACT and get rejected. It’s selective admissions. Apply to some safety schools that are within your score and GPA range, and apply to some reach schools like GW. Apply to a few schools above your range (“reach” schools like GW), a few schools below your range (not competitive schools), and some within your range.</p>
<p>Also think about where you really would fit in and be happy in college. If you’re struggling to get a 3.2 in high school, how difficult would college classes at a selective school be for you? Do you want to spend 10 hours a day studying? Honestly evaluate the situation. Your ACT fits the GPA for that test score. You don’t want to go to a college that you struggle to pass, nor do you want to go to a college that’s so easy you can get a 4.0 GPA without showing up for class. Take an honest look at your academic background, what’s easy/hard for you, and really think about what colleges are right for YOU. You won’t get merit aid with that GPA/test scores at GWU, but you might get academic scholarships at your state school. For example, to get a merit scholarschip at Buena Vista University, you have to have a 3.5 high school GPA plus a 26 ACT score. Your scores are lower than that at BVU. Dordt College requires a 3.0 GPA and a 21 ACT for merit scholarships. It’s not that your GPA is “bad” as a student compared to your high school classmates. It’s that GW is competitive and most applicants have higher test scores/GPAs.</p>
<p>Good luck. If you don’t get in, you save $200,000+ on college. You can always attend another college and bring your GPA up and expand your ECs/job experience and reapply after a year or two.</p>